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Complaints

Guide to London Councils Complaints Procedure

London Councils has a simple three stage procedure that covers most of the services we provide. Please read the information below for details on the kinds of complaints we can investigate and how they will be handled.

What can we investigate?

We can investigate any of the following through our 3 stage complaints procedure:

an unsatisfactory level or quality of service provided by London Councils

concerns about service delivery or non-delivery by London Councils

a failure to provide information or give the correct information

a failure to follow London Councils agreed policies and procedures

a complaint about the behaviour of staff or contractors employed by London Councils.

What must be investigated by other procedures?

Complaints about the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators or the Road User Charging Adjudicators (collectively known as London Tribunals) cannot be dealt with by London Councils. For details about when and how to complain about an adjudicator, please visit the London Tribunals website (http://www.londontribunals.gov.uk)

Complaints about elected Members should be referred to their own authorities where they are bound by their local code of conduct.

What can’t we investigate?

Sometimes we receive complaints about policy decisions taken by London Councils Member bodies, for example the level of parking fines or a reduction in the Grants scheme. If your complaint is about the policy itself, rather than the way a decision has been taken or a problem with delivery of a service, we will not consider it under our complaints procedure.

Our standards for handling complaints

We treat all complaints seriously, whether they are made in person, or by telephone, letter, fax or email.

We will treat complainants with courtesy and fairness at all times.

We will aim to meet the timescales set down within our procedures and if, for any reason, we require further time we will tell the complainant the reason why and let them know when we will be able to reply in full.

We will not treat a complainant less favourably than anyone else because of their:

Age

Disability

Gender reassignment

Marital or civil partnership status

Pregnancy or maternity status

Race

Religion/belief

Sex

Sexual orientation

5. If a complainant requires assistance in making their complaint, we will provide appropriate help, which may include putting people in touch with a suitable agency which can assist them in making their complaint.

All complaints received will be dealt with confidentially and in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Our aim is to deal with all complaints in ways which are demonstrably consistent, fair and reasonable. We reserve the right to handle any complaint made unreasonably, persistently or vexatiously outside of the three stage complaints procedure. Examples of such complaints include those where the complainant causes unnecessary aggravation or annoyance to the organisation, refuses to co-operate with the complaints process, or changes the basis of the complaint as the investigation proceeds and/or introduces new information into the complaint.

Making a complaint

If you wish to make a complaint, or enquire about the progress of your complaint, please contact the Corporate Complaints Officer: